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There are two candidates for mayor and six for three council seats. The election is April 5. The candidates all answered a series of questions posed by Aspen Public Radio. Here are their responses.If you would like to ask any of the candidates a question, please email it to us by clicking here.

Rob Leavitt

Name and age?  Rob Leavitt, 51

What brought you to Basalt and what keeps you here? I moved to Basalt from Aspen after my second daughter was born. Though I was initially anxious about the move, I quickly came to love living in the midvalley and would never trade the quality of life we have here.

For the full list of questions and answers, click here.

Have you ever been arrested? If so, why? No

Who is your personal hero and why? My dad; his guiding principle was “do the right thing.” I have tried to the best of my ability to live that way.

Why should you be elected to Basalt Town Council? First, thank you to Aspen Public Radio for giving us this opportunity to help voters make informed decisions. Two years ago I was elected mayor pro-tem by my fellow councilors because I am able to build consensus and I feel I represent the moderate majority of citizens who are in favor of limited growth and protecting our natural resources and small town character.

If you could accomplish only one thing as a Basalt Town Council member, what would it be? Four years ago, there was no relationship between the school district and the town, despite a previously executed IGA. Now, we collaborate on facilities, housing and recreation. Improving this relationship was a promise I made four years ago and I’m proud to call it the greatest success of my first term. I will continue to work for educational excellence in our town. I will also ensure that we finally get a downtown park on the river that is vibrant, interesting and fun with appropriately sized development that spurs vitality downtown.

What about the current Basalt Town Council that needs to change? This council is moving forward with plans for the Pan and Fork. Are the plans moving forward as quickly as most people want? Probably not, but something I have learned in the last four years is that government work never does. But I believe it is more important to get it done right than to get it done fast. We could have done a better job communicating our progress, explaining the delays and publicizing a timeline for the work.

Basalt is grappling with several issues. A big one is how to go about the Pan and Fork property. As a Basalt Town Council member, what would you advocate for?  The Pan and Fork property has the potential to be a magnificent jewel in the middle of downtown and the heart of the valley. I picture a lively, interesting and fun park with attractions for people of all ages from water features to public art, embracing the river, the surrounding views and the environment. Appropriately sized and scaled development next to Rocky Mountain Institute must activate the park, hopefully provide good jobs and complement, not cannibalize, commerce in the downtown core. I prefer not to have residences on that parcel, but I understand that they may be needed by a developer to make the finances work.

Some people say Basalt is split over how to manage the Pan and Fork. Others say most people want the same thing, it’s just some of the details are different. What do you think? We have very vocal minorities on opposite ends of the development spectrum. The majority of citizens are in agreement that the best and highest use of the Pan and Fork property is to have limited development next to Rocky Mountain Institute and a world-class park on the river, in the heart of downtown, to be enjoyed for generations.

Old Town Basalt is still struggling to fill storefronts. How much does town government play a role in changing that?  Government does not set rents or choose tenants. What government can do is promote vitality in town by appropriately managing development, protecting and enhancing our natural resources and encouraging excellence in our schools. This type of governance will set the stage for a bustling economy that will “fill storefronts” and increase activity in town.